Enjoying God and others

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Samuel 7:1–8:18 
John 14:15-31 
Psalm 119:33-48 
Proverbs 15:33

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

John 14:23 (CSB) "Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Probably the greatest human need is for relationship. We long to love and be loved by others.

In God's work of Creation in Genesis 1-2, we read that the Lord kept pronouncing everything "good." Yet, when He created Adam and before He created Eve, He acknowledged Adam's lack of relationship as "not good."

Genesis 2:18 (CSB) "Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him.'"

So, even in the perfect utopia known as the Garden of Eden, before sin entered the world, where Adam was free to enjoy God, it was still acknowledged that Adam needed a human relationship - in his particular case, a wife.

But, the interesting truth is that it wasn't good that man only had God, he needed a human relationship. But, once Adam sinned and took his wife out of Eden and away from the unbroken relationship with God, loneliness became his plight.

Principle: We need a relationship with God and others. We need to have our hearts satisfied in a relationship with God in order to enjoy others. And having our need for relationship met by others (church, family, etc.) enables us to enjoy God's presence all the more.

The greatest commandment (love God will everything we've got) enables us to obey the second greatest commandment (love others as we love ourselves) and vise versa (see Matthew 22:35-40).

In our Verse for Today, God tells us that for those who love Him and demonstrate it by doing what He says, the Trinity will take up residence inside of him. Relationship and union cannot get any closer or more intimate than that! God lives inside of those of us who are Jesus-followers!

So, there are two truths to be enjoyed from this verse:

1) Enjoy the relationship with God that He is offering to you. Enjoy it so much that you are overflowing with joy.

2) Then, you will be more emotionally healthy and suited to enjoy relationship with others.

God really does understand us. He knows of our need for relationship. It's met in Him and in others. And He has provided the way for us to enjoy them.